After you plan to turn your house into a smart home, you begin to explore the idea of smart devices. At the same time, the first thing most people go for is the smart voice assistant.
Among many voice assistants, Amazon Alexa is one of the smart home voice assistants.
The name “Alexa” goes for both the Alexa app and smart speakers like Amazon Echo Dot and Echo Show, for example. Many smart homeowners use the name: Alexa to mean either a smart speaker (Echo) or the Alexa Amazon app.
So if you plan to get Alexa as your smart home ecosystem, you’d also like to know about its cost.
Hence, you’d wonder, “How much does Alexa cost?” right?
Well, it depends on which type of Alexa you’re talking about. The Alexa app, Amazon Echo Devices, or the smart assistant Alexa herself.
But don’t get overwhelmed because I’ve covered everything about the cost of Alexa assistant, Alexa devices, app subscription, and hidden costs!
So you can have an idea of if this smart home ecosystem (Alexa) is free or not!
Amazon Alexa devices cost (Echo device + Smart Displays)
When it comes to the Alexa devices, you have the option to choose from either Echo devices or smart displays. Both of these Amazon Alexa devices are compatible with almost every smart device.
Amazon Echo devices are just your smart voice assistants. In fact, you can also turn echo devices into a Bluetooth speaker.
Amazon smart displays, on the other hand, aren’t only voice assistants, but they also feature screens to view extra features.
These specs set them apart from each other.
Besides, both of these Alexa voice assistants vary in pricing, with Echo Dot priced lower.
- The cost of Amazon Echo (3rd Gen) starts from $50 (View the Latest Price)
- The cost of Amazon Echo (4th Gen) starts from $100 (View the Latest Price)
Again, the cost of these smart products changes from time to time. And depending on your choice of smart assistant device, the cost may vary. In other words, if you like a basic voice assistant, you can go with any of these options.
But if you’ve got the budget, you can opt for display voice assistants, which are the pricier options.
- The cost of Amazon Echo Show 5 starts from $80 (View the Latest Price)
- The cost of Amazon Echo Show 8 starts from $130 (View the Latest Price)
- The cost of Amazon Echo Show 10 starts from $250 (View the Latest Price)
- The cost of the Amazon Echo Show 15 starts from $280 (View the Latest Price)
Amazon Fire TV stick Device (Only One-Time Purchase)
Amazon Fire TV stick (Available at a reasonable price) is an additional media streaming device by Amazon.
It allows Alexa users to integrate it with their Echo devices to access streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
While you get a remote with this device, its Alexa integration is what makes it a good feature.
Using your voice command, you can watch your favorite show on TV. For example, “Alexa, find the latest show on Netflix.”
And when it’s past your bedtime, you can just Alexa (Using a Firestick device) to turn off the TV.
And there are no monthly fees to pay for using this device. Yup, it’s completely free after you’ve purchased it!
In short, you can use voice commands to pick a movie, pause or play a video (Including Youtube), and even control other smart home devices that are compatible with Alexa. This FireTVStick device by Alexa is probably the best device for smart homeowners to interact with their TV hands-free.
Does the Alexa app cost money?
The smart speakers and assistants run on the Alexa app. It’s the app that lets you control every smart device in your home. From smart lights to smart robotic vacuums, the Alexa app is, like, a centralized place that keeps every smart device in one place.
The amazing thing about Alexa smart speakers is that they already have this built-in free-to-use Alexa app.
Plus, you can download it for free on the App Store or Google Play Store on your smartphones. And use it unlimited without paying for anything!
So, of course, Alexa is free to use. In fact, you can do so much with her free skills including:
- Use free skills
- Set time
- Schedule tasks
- Play Free Music
- Check weather
- Control your smart devices like smart lights, for example using your voice
The only time the Alexa app will cost you money is when you use premium Alexa app services (optional). Some good examples of premium Alexa are Amazon music, audiobooks, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Echo Show premium, and some premium skills that require a subscription.
So let’s say that you want to shop for fruit and vegetables. Using the Alexa app, you can just give voice commands to her and she’d deliver it to you through Amazon Fresh.
This optional premium feature comes with a cost, but it’s worth it. So If I had to use it, I would just say, “Alexa, schedule my Amazon Fresh delivery for tomorrow morning.”
Does Alexa have a monthly fee?
Earlier, we mentioned that Alexa available is for free to use and built-in software in Amazon speakers and displays. Another good thing about Alexa is that there is no monthly subscription fee for Alexa. It means that you aren’t required to pay a monthly fee for using Alexa.
However, there are a few Alexa services that require a premium subscription, which is optional.
It depends on the subscription plan that you choose. The premium features have monthly fees. So again, the choice is yours!
How much for an Alexa subscription?
Alexa subscription costs for premium services go to roughly 4.99 a month. And it depends on which plan and premium service you’ve opted for. Here’s a list of Alexa premium features (Amazon Prime services) and their monthly fees:
- Amazon Music – $7.99 per month
- Amazon Prime – $12.99 per month
- Premium Audiobooks – $7.95 per month
- Amazon Echo Show Premium – $2.99 per month
Is Music free on Alexa?
A variety of Music is accessible on Alexa that you can play. However, you’ll need to pay for premium music services like paid Amazon Music and Spotify. These are the kind of premium services that require subscription fees to play your favorite songs on demand. But still, you can use their free versions if you don’t want unlimited access to music.
Note: The premium features of Amazon may be available in certain countries.
What about the cost of Alexa skills?
Alexa skills don’t cost money. You get them for free on Echo devices.
There are, however, some particular third-party skills that are paid. They have some premium features that most people prefer.
For example, a paid Alexa skill like Teladoc lets you talk to a doctor on your Echo devices. A ton of such paid skills are available for Alexa users.
The downside is that some of these skills may only be available in certain parts of the World.
And the hidden costs of Alexa?
The thing is that there are no hidden costs of Alexa that you need to worry about!
Rest assured, you can run Alexa on your Echo devices without incurring any monthly fees.
Just keep an eye on the Prime or premium services that you’ve subscribed to. Over time, most premium services change the subscription fees that you may mistake for hidden costs.
While these subscriptions don’t necessarily always add costs, you should still check them.
Check your Alexa subscriptions
Ask Alexa, “Check my subscriptions” or your Amazon Memberships and Subscriptions.
In a Nutshell
It’s a fact that Alexa is a popular voice assistant that has revolutionized the way we interact with our smart home. But it’s common for any new user to wonder, “How much does Alexa cost.” The good news is that the basic Alexa service is free to use, and there are no hidden charges or fees. However, if you want a more premium experience, you can choose to subscribe to additional services that are available every month. These subscriptions are entirely optional and depend on your preferences and needs.